Last night I made this delicious recipe to test on my family! I thought I would make this for friends or teachers and put them in take-out boxes or cello bags with ribbon for Christmas. This took 10 minutes to make and the add-ins are endless: dark, milk, white chocolate, cashews, almonds, pecans....
I used peppermint extract, but only 1/2 tsp and almonds.

Melt chocolate chips in the microwave (set at 50% power for 3 mins, stirring halfway through). Add the vegetable oil and extract. Stir in the nuts, dried fruit, and or candy bits. Spread it out on a baking pan lined with parchment. Let it harden in the refrigerator for about 2 hours; then break apart into pieces.

SurfLola

11-20-2010 02:37 PM

I thought I might make these as well as gifts. I'll put them in little mason jars, tied with gingham ribbon for friends this Christmas. This tastes good and is very easy to make.

Melt together butter and chocolate over low heat. Stir in powdered sugar and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat then boil 4 to 5 minutes, stirring continuously.

Makes 2 cups

Would this need to be kept refridgerated?

Bonnie

SurfLola

11-22-2010 04:36 AM

I'm so glad you asked that - I checked and it does need to be refrigerated and should be eaten within a week. Maybe I'll make some vanilla ice cream to go with it ;

SurfLola

12-05-2010 05:14 PM

I made this fudge today. While the website touted it was 'to die for' I would'nt really agree. It was good, but not TDF. If you want a blast of sugar, this is your recipe. Its easy and there is no baking or candy thermometers in sight.

Caramilk Fudge
from La Cuisine d'Helene

2 cups brown sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 Caramilk bars (my Canadian friends will know what these are and here in the US, you could use Ghiradelli with caramel. Just use enough to cover an 8x8 pan)

Grease an 8x8 pan and set aside.
Combine brown sugar, condensed milk, and butter in a large microwaveable bowl and microwave for 8 min, stirring every 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat with a handmixer for 4 minutes. Pour half the mixture into the greased pan. Lay the candy bars and pour the rest of the mixture on top and smooth.

SurfLola

12-20-2010 05:47 AM

These are from the archives of The Pioneer Woman. I made these with my kids and they are beyond simple - and lovely. I don't know why they call them Toffee but they are really good.

When my DH makes them the house smells like chocolate for almost 2 days! He doesn't like mint so he puts a few white chocolate chips in the center (instead of the Andes mint candy) and it looks really nice and tastes even more chocolate-y!

Graham Cracker Toffee Bars
•
• 1 package (10 To 12 Pieces In A Package) Graham Crackers
• 2 sticks Butter
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1 cup Chocolate Chips
• ½ cups Slivered Or Sliced Almonds
Preparation Instructions
Line an 11×15 inch cookie sheet with whole crackers. It will fill up pretty much the whole space. Use as many whole crackers as you need to fill the space.
Mix butter and brown sugar in a pan to boil. Stir for 5 minutes while boiling on low.
Spread the butter/sugar mixture over the crackers and bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and nuts when it comes out of the oven. Cool for 10-20 minutes in the fridge.
Break into pieces.
Alternative: After sprinkling with chocolate chips, let the chocolate melt for a minute, then spread it out over the caramel, then sprinkle the nuts.

SurfLola

01-10-2011 05:57 AM

Last night I made Chocolate Mint Brownies but the brownie recipe I used was dry. My kids like brownies from a box (there, I said it). So next time I will make the box brownies and add these two layers.

Preheat oven to 350*. Spray an 8x8 inch baking dish with spray. Set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar and lemon zest. Stur until graham crackers are moist. Press crumbs into the prepared pan, pressing the crust mixture one inch up the sides. Bake for 10 mins. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature.

Once the crust is cooled, combine the egg yolks and condensed milk until well mixed. Stir in the lemon juice and zest. Stir until mixture begins to slightly thicken. Gently fold in the raspberries. Fold carefully so you don't break the raspberries.
Pour the lemon raspberry filling evenly over the graham cracker crust. Bake for 15 mins or until just set.
Cool to room temperature, then chill for at least one hour before serving. Cut into bars and serve. Keep bars in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
NOTE: use fresh raspberries and make sure you gently fold the berries into the lemon filling or you will have pink bars.

craftymomto2

01-29-2011 02:08 PM

YUM...these all sound so good!

deelite

02-04-2011 06:40 AM

Oh boy do those toffee bars sound good, and fairly easy to make. I am following you now Lola, for your good recipes.
Off to stamp.
Ddd

SurfLola

02-04-2011 02:47 PM

Following me?

SurfLola

02-12-2011 04:51 PM

If anyone is interested, I just made the Hot Fudge Sauce from above. It's so easy and absolutely delicious. It takes about 7 minutes to make. I put it in little canning jars for some friends. Very cute and easy as pie.

SurfLola

03-01-2011 03:33 AM

Every Tuesday we make the trip to Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital with my daughter. Each week we make a different dessert for the nurses who are incredibly wonderful to us and all the other children there. We've made brownies, cookies, chocolate bark, muffins, etc but last week we made the Graham Cracker toffee bars. Four nurses asked for the recipe and one called them 'evil' ;)

SurfLola

03-02-2011 02:34 AM

Another Tasty Kitchen recipe. I've made this many times and its really good. Its VERY easy.

Sift together 3/4 c. sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
Melt square of unsweetened chocolate and butter in the microwave. Add to dry ingredients alternaltely with the milk and vanilla. Blend. Pour into a greased 8x8 pan.
Combine brown sugar, the 1/2 c. additional granulated sugar and cocoa powder. Sprinkle over the cake batter. Pour the one cup cold coffee over the top of the cake. This will look terrible at this point but don't worry. Bake at 350* for 40 minutes.

SurfLola

03-03-2011 03:50 AM

Pecan Pie Muffins
•
• 1 cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
• ½ cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 cup Chopped Pecans
• ⅔ cups Softened Butter
• 2 whole Eggs Beaten
Preheat oven 350 F.
Grease your muffin pan (whatever size) or use greased silicone cups.
In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour and pecans. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and eggs together until smooth. Stir into the dry ingredients just until combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Cups should be about 2/3 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on wire racks when done.
When you take them out of the oven, place a slice of butter on top and eat warm. You may also use walnuts instead of pecans.

TeeGeeDee

03-03-2011 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfLola
(Post 18028448)

Pecan Pie Muffins
•
• 1 cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
• ½ cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 cup Chopped Pecans
• ⅔ cups Softened Butter
• 2 whole Eggs Beaten
Preheat oven 350 F.
Grease your muffin pan (whatever size) or use greased silicone cups.
In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour and pecans. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and eggs together until smooth. Stir into the dry ingredients just until combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Cups should be about 2/3 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on wire racks when done.
When you take them out of the oven, place a slice of butter on top and eat warm. You may also use walnuts instead of pecans.

I'm asking my DH to make these - I love pecan pie and muffins are just the rigth size for a not-as-guilty treat!

TFS!

Tina aka TeeGeeDee

SurfLola

03-03-2011 09:55 AM

Let me know how you like them! I gave this recipe to a friend and she LOVES them. Super easy. With a bit of butter at the end is delicious.

TeeGeeDee

03-04-2011 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfLola
(Post 18029871)

Let me know how you like them! I gave this recipe to a friend and she LOVES them. Super easy. With a bit of butter at the end is delicious.

I will ... I haven't asked him to make them yet but I'm sure he'll say yes (then it's just a matter of time and shopping :)) I might just go ahead and buy the pecans etc. and then ask him!

TeeGeeDee

03-07-2011 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeeGeeDee
(Post 18033798)

I will ... I haven't asked him to make them yet but I'm sure he'll say yes (then it's just a matter of time and shopping :)) I might just go ahead and buy the pecans etc. and then ask him!

He saw the print-out of the recipe on Sat (I placed it where he'd have no choice LOL) and he - on his own - added stuff to our shopping list (we usually shop SUN morning).

He baked these delicious gems shortly after we got home and we've been pacing ourselves ever since (he got 11 muffins; we shared one as a taste test and I ate 2 so have 3 more to enjoy.)

Thanks - from both of us - for sharing this easy, delicious recipe.

SurfLola

03-08-2011 03:09 AM

TeeGeeDee, I am so happy you enjoyed that recipe. 5 ingredients and tasty!

Today is Tuesday and that means a trip to NYC for my daughter's cancer treatment. Its a 10 hour day door to door. This week's treat is Alaskan Blueberry Cake. I posted this in What's For Dinner but its a simple dessert and I thought it might be buried in a main course thread. It is easy to make and delicious. I was thinking of the Pecan Muffins but they don't make too many and I think they taste better warm from the oven.

Our thought is just a little Thank You to the nurses and it gives them a little sweet boost in the middle of the day. Plus this cake travels well.

The pecan pie muffins were still yummy the next day (and I forgot to put them in a container). Next time I want to try it with the butter!

Thanks for sharing all your yummy recipes and I hope things go well for you and your daughter.

SurfLola

03-12-2011 06:27 AM

Thank you Tina...It was a long day but worth every second.

This Tuesday we are making Shortbread Cookies. Its my grandmother's recipe and I will post it as soon as I find it in the house. I haven't made it in ages and there are only 3 ingredients - butter, sugar and flour. They are so good. Probably the best cookies I have ever had. I can't wait to share it with everyone and I can't wait to make it for our nurses.

SurfLola

03-12-2011 09:07 AM

Found the recipe. My grandmother always used her hands to mix this, something about the heat in your hands. Anyway, I hope you like it if you make it.....

Mix everything together with your hands. Roll out into a big oval on a cookie sheet, about ½ inch thick. Using a fork, poke holes all over.
Bake 275* on a low rack of the oven about 1 hour or until golden brown. Sprinkle with granulated sugar on top and slice while still warm

TeeGeeDee

03-12-2011 10:37 AM

The shortbread sounds easy enough ... whenever you are back on here could you tell me about how much they yield.

You and your family will stay in my thoughts.

SurfLola

03-12-2011 11:17 AM

Thank you Tina - it means a lot to me.

When I make this, the oval of dough almost fills the whole cookie sheet except the edges. I think it makes about a pound. I am guessing (I could be way off). How about if I made a batch and take a photo for you to give you an idea:) Stay tuned

TeeGeeDee

03-12-2011 12:15 PM

You're very sweet ... I think a pound (or close to it) is plenty. I'll be getting together next month with some stamping buddies. If time/budget allow may bring something in addition to the pecan pie muffins (in case anyone can't eat pecans; I don't know everyone that will be there - adds to the fun!)

Please don't rush on the photo - I'll be out a good part of the rest of the day and early tomorrow.

SurfLola

03-12-2011 01:02 PM

3 Attachment(s)

These pictures will not win any awards but I thought it might give you an idea of how much and how it goes. The plate is a small dessert plate in size and not all the cookies fit on it (a little cookie monster stopped by).
It took 5 minutes to put these together. I baked for an hour but I think a few more minutes would have been better. I used about 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar for all over the top.

TeeGeeDee

03-13-2011 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfLola
(Post 18064989)

These pictures will not win any awards but I thought it might give you an idea of how much and how it goes. The plate is a small dessert plate in size and not all the cookies fit on it (a little cookie monster stopped by).
It took 5 minutes to put these together. I baked for an hour but I think a few more minutes would have been better. I used about 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar for all over the top.

You're a gem ... these look fantastic and I may even bake them myself (I leave most of the cooking and just about all the baking to DH). Maybe for Easter since there'll be other desserts (if I flop); I like to have a less-heavy dessert option on the big dinner events, kwim?

SurfLola

03-16-2011 12:12 PM

We ended up making the graham cracker toffee bars rather than the shortbread for the hospital yesterday. Didn't have any softened butter and 2 more nurses asked for the recipe. They really are good.

REFRIGERATE 3 hours or until set.
Size-Wise
This lemony pie is the perfect choice for a spring or summer celebration with friends or family. Remember, 1 serving is 1/8th of the pie.
Special Extra
Garnish with 1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries just before serving.

Substitute
Prepare using Jell-O Pistachio or Vanilla Instant Pudding.

SurfLola

06-22-2011 02:08 AM

Terstamper, this looks nice for a summer BBQ. I will make this. Thanks.

With July 4th coming, anyone have any interesting desserts for parties and BBQ? This lemon pie would be just right! Any others out there?

SurfLola

06-23-2011 02:38 AM

From Family Fun magazine....

Dip strawberries in white chocolate half way up, then dip the pointy end in blue sprinkles or blue sugar crystals. Just let me know if anyone needs the exact recipe and I will post.